Improvement in tide-water wheels



danni tartes @sind @titille ,Letters Patent No. 93,392, dated August 3, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN TIDE-WATER WHEELS.

The Schedule referred tain these Letters Patent and making pari.s of the same.

To all 'whom/t may concern Be it known that I, I. W. YARRELL, of Littleton, in the county of Halifax, and State of North Garolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lVater-Vheels; and I do hereby declare the follarly' to be operated by the rising and falling ot' tides,

but generally by any iiow or fall of water.

In the drawings- A represents the casing, which is open at both ends, and consists oi' side pieces B, and a bottom, (l, which parts are connected together in any suitable manner, and retained by top cross-pieces a, or other-V wise.

I) is the wheel-iioor, which consists of a fiat board, or piece of other material, arranged parallel above the bottom C, so as to leave a space, E, between the two parts, which space is likewise open at both ends.

The side pieces B of the easing are grooved or channelled to receive-sliding gates F, which have a vertical motion from the wheel-floor 1),'and adapted to be raised to a height equal to the surface ofthe water or steam.

Swinging or other gates may be employed, their object being to admit, cnt oil", and regulate the flow oi' water to the wheel at all times.

An vopening is made in the floor-case I),and in this opening the wheel G, has its rotation, the wheel being.

secured to a shaft, c, which rests on a suitable step on the bottom C, and is retained and guided by a top cross-bar b, or by any other proper means.

H are valves, which are hinged in a suitable manner to the ends ofthe side pieces 13,01'` the wheeliioor D, so that their lower ends are free, whereby' said valves are adapted to swing freely.

They arearranged at the ends of the spaces E, so as to open or close them, as seen in fig. 1.

The wheel G is constructed with the usual hub I, to which the shaft c is connected, and from which extend the` buckets J.

Each bucket consists of aflat plate, which is curved downwardly, and has4 formed on its outer side a similarly-curved iiange, d.v

rlhe lower end .of each bucket is underneath its ad-v jacent buoket, as seen in dotted lines, g. 2.

When the wheel is in position, the upper end of the buckets should be incline with the face of the wheeldoor D, asseen in iig. l.

llie operation is as follows:

The case is placed in position in a cove, or elsewhere, ata proper distance from the shore, that is, with one of the free ends facing in the direction of the sea, and the other end in that of the shore.

Einbankments are then niade from the sides of the casing to the shore, which lie on those sides, so that the water must iiow through the casing.

The wheel-floor D should be at such a height that V the lowest water at ebb-tide will always iiow to the wheel, or the said iioor shall be so placed that even the lowest surface of astream will operate the wheel.

Figure-1 is intended to represent the wheel in use, while the tide is rising.

The gate toward the sea is opened and the other closed. The water now rushes in the casing in the sea end, and acts on the buckets and turns the wheel.

It must be observed that the valve, at the sea end, is kept closed by the pressure of water against its outer' side, but the valve at the other end is opened, and kept opened by the water, which 'flows from the wheel through the space E.

A continual current is thus produced, which may be regulated or cut off by the open gate, hitherto described. l

As the water rises, so its power on the wheel increases, and continues to act thus on the wheel until iioodtide, or high water.

. So soon as the tide begins to fall, then the gate on the sea side must be closed, and'that on the shore be opened. a

The valve on the shore side now closes, while that toward the seais opened by the water from the wheel, in a manner similar to what has been previously described. s

The wheel thus turns in the same direction, and operates equally 'well on the rising as well asthe fall ing 0f the tide.

Should both valves be opened, there will be no rotation of the wheel, in consequence ot' the water flowingthrough the space E and seeking its level.

The motion of the wheel may be further prevented b y rigidly securing the valves against opening, or by closing the space E, whereby there is no circulation of water through said space, and consequently no operation'of the wheel.

The wheel, as constructed, is readily operated. 'lhere is but little friction andv suction,'owing to the sharp ends of the buckets, while the simplicity ofthe wheel is such as to make an efficient motor, and one which is within the reach of the humblest miller.

Should the wheel be desired when there is a high head of water, or take the place of over-shot wheel,

the buckets must be reversed on the shaft, that is to the curved form, as stated, and having their lower ends beneath eachl other, substantially as :md for the 'purpose described.

2. The provision for operating a. water-wheel in the same direction, by the rise and fall of tides, substantially as described.

The above signed by me, this 16th day of December, 1868. l

I. W. YARRELL.,

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, PHIL. F. LARNER. 

